Online SAP EPC SBEM Calculations

SAPCalc.com Online Calculations

SAPCalc.com provides Accredited SAP Calculations, which on passing can be accepted by Building Control or Approved Inspectors without any further assessment.

SAP (Standard Assessment Procedure) Calculations are an assessment protocol for the energy performance of new residential premises, which from the 7th April 2006 have been required for all dwellings.

Why do you need a SAP Calculation?

With Governmental and Public focus on C02 emissions, Architects and Developers need to consider the impact that their designs are having on the environment like never before. Part L1a of the Building Regulations requires that SAP calculations are carried out on all new build developments to prove that they are not contributing excessively to carbon emissions. Each dwelling must demonstrate that it meets the Target Emission Rate as stipulated within the SAP calculation.

Further information on design and as built SAP's

There are 2 stages for the SAP Calculations

The Design Stage is completed and submitted at the same time as your building control application to your Building Control Body or Approved Inspector. If there are changes to the specification after the Design SAP has been completed then the Building Control Officer or Approved Inspector may request that an amended Design SAP is submitted.

The As-Built Stage is calculated when the premises is complete. From the calculation a 'pass' Certificate will be produced for submission to the Building Control Officer or Approved Inspector.

Part L1A

Part L1A is to do with Conservation of Fuel and Power in new dwellings and is just one part of the Building Regulations in England and Wales. Since the government announced that it intends to reduce the UK's carbon emissions by 60% by the year 2050 there has been a concerted effort to look at ways of reducing emissions from within the built environment. 50% of the UK's carbon emissions can be attributed to the built environment so it stands to reason that the biggest cut backs can be made in this area. Part L1a contains the legislation that aims to make this happen.

There are five criteria which must be met to achieve compliance. One of these criteria is that the Dwelling Emission Rate should be equal to or less than the Target Emission Rate. This is achieved using the government approved calculation methodology, which in this case is the SAP calculation. Other factors that are covered by Part L1a include air permeability rates, restricting U values and limiting solar gains in summer.

EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)

The Energy Performance Certificate is now a mandatory requirement for all new homes completed after 6th April 2008. The certificate sets out the dwellings sap & energy efficiency ratings and also has a list of recommended upgrades in order of cost effectiveness. The certificate is required for the sale of the property.

SAP 2009

The new SAP 2009 methodology was published in draft for consultation last week which changes will most affect builders and designers?

The draft SAP 2009 contains a number of changes that will affect designers, builders and developers. The most significant changes likely to affect work on site are the need to insulate and seal party walls and the need to pay serious attention to non-repeating thermal bridges.

However, there are also a host of other changes that taken together will have a significant impact. We will not know the full extent until Part L 2010 is released, but the changes in SAP 2009 will in themselves have a considerable impact.

There are essentially two types of change within SAP 2009. First, those aimed to improve the accuracy of the SAP methodology. Second, changes to make SAP more flexible, enabling a variety of new and existing technologies to be combined within a given dwelling.

The overall effect will be an increase in the predicted energy consumption of dwellings for heating. There will also be an increase in energy use in dwellings with air-conditioning as the cooling load is also now considered. The amount of CO2 produced per unit of energy consumed will also increase substantially in many cases, due to a new national assessment methodology. The CO2 emissions from electricity will, for example, increase by 40% between SAP 2005 and SAP 2009.

The key Building Regulations compliance criterion is that the dwelling emission rate (DER) for the proposed dwelling must be less or equal to the target emission rate (TER). The DER and TER are based on carbon emissions per square metre of floor area for heating, hot water and lighting. Many of the changes in SAP 2009 will affect both the DER and TER. This means that housing developers may not feel the full impact of these increases in emissions. It will, however, be harder to achieve a zero-carbon home.

Full Article Here (soucre from building.co.uk)